Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Boomer's Wall of Fame Wednesday

Wall of Fame

How goes it, "Rock" fans? Thanks again for all the support out there, and continuing to check what's happening here with the Rock Bottom Boys. Here we go, another installment of Boomer's Wall of Fame Wednesday. Tonights, basics...player-coach familiarity, case in point, with every great player, there was a coach associated with them. For tonights induction, I enshrine two guys that, if you talk about one, you gotta talk about them other. All you night-owls out there enjoy, and for the rest of you, I guess I'll catch you in the morning.

First up, 11-time NBA All-Star...#33 Patrick Ewing.

Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing, the face of the New York Knicks from 1985-2000, famously associated with the "frozen envelope" 1985 NBA Draft, in which the league held its first "lottery draft", that the New York Knicks won the #1 overall pick selecting Ewing out of Georgetown University. Patrick Ewing's time in Georgetown was something special, although it could have been so much more. Winning the 1984 National Championship over the University of Houston, yet coming up short in the Championship Game in 1982 as a freshmen (to UNC, a a kid named Michael Jordan) and then again as a senior in 1985 to underdog & unranked Villanova. Patrick Ewing was the best college player of his era, and Georgetown played in three out of four National Championship Games while Ewing was on campus. Ewing was a part of the 1984 US Mens Olympic Gold Medalist team, and again in 1992 winning the Gold Medal as part of the "Dream Team". NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986, he made the All-NBA 1st team in 1990 and was a 6-time All-NBA 2nd team selection. Known for his defensive presence in the paint, Ewing accounted for 2,894 blocks (2.4 bpg) and was a dominant player in the post during his time in the NBA. Finishing his career with 24,815 points (21 ppg) and 11,617 rebounds (9.8 rpg), Ewing lead the Knicks to two NBA Finals (losing to the Rockets in 7, 1994; & Spurs in 5, 1999.). Ewing also played for the Orlando Magic & Seattle Supersonics at the end of his storied NBA career. Patrick Ewing is one of the 50 greatest players to play in the NBA and is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. It is an honor to induct Patrick Ewing up onto Boomer's Wall of Fame.

And joining him up on the Wall of Fame, his college coach, John Thompson.

John Thompson

Just as important as Patrick Ewing was to the Hoyas of Georgetown, the mastermind behind it all, Head Coach, John Thompson. Famously known, for roaming the sideline with a white bath towel over his shoulder, Thompson was the Head Coach of the Hoyas from 1972-1999. Standing at 6'10'' and 270 lbs., Thompson towered over opposing coaches (as well as many players) and was a intimidating figure for Hoyas hoops over his 27-year coaching career. Finishing with a career record of 596-239 (.714) and winning the 1984 National Championship, while coaching in two other Championship Games in 1982 and 1985. Coach Thompson, won seven Coach of the Year awards and enjoyed a streak of 24-consective postseasons, with 20 of those in the NCAA (including a 14-year streak from 1979-1992), and the other four in the NIT. Under Coach Thompson, Georgetown had 26 players drafted in the NBA Draft, including two overall #1 selections in Patrick Ewing in 1985 and Allen Iverson in 1996. Again, it is with great privilege to induct Coach John Thompson up onto Boomer's Wall of Fame, along side his most famous player Patrick Ewing.